IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,658,980
Granted Patent B2
US 12,658,980 · App. 18/260,749 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

User equipment capability indication for reconfigurable intelligent surface aided positioning

Inventors: Weimin Duan (San Diego, CA); Jing Lei (San Diego, CA); Alexandros Manolakos (Escondido, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04B7/04013H04B17/328H04L5/0051H04W8/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,658,980
App. No.
18/260,749
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an aspect, a target UE determines a capability of the target UE associated with reflections of reference signals for positioning (RS-Ps) off one or more reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), and transmits an indication of the determined UE capability. A position estimation entity (e.g., LMF) receives the indication, and configures a positioning session for the target UE based at least in part upon the indication.

Claims (164)

1 . A method of operating a target user equipment (UE), comprising:

determining a capability of the target UE associated with reflections of reference signals for positioning (RS-Ps) off one or more reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs); and

transmitting an indication of the determined UE capability,

wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning, and the DL-PRS measurement report capability is configured to indicate: a maximum number of DL-PRS reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements supported by the target UE on different DL-PRS resources from the same respective RIS, or a maximum number of DL reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs, or a maximum number of DL RSTD measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs per transmission reception point (TRP), or support for simultaneous processing of angle of departure (AoD) and time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements for RIS-based positioning, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and multi-round trip time (RTT) measurements for RIS-based positioning, or any combination thereof, or

wherein the indication comprises an uplink sounding reference signal for positioning (UL-SRS-P) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning, and the UL-SRS-P measurement report capability indication is configured to indicate: a maximum number of UL-SRS-P RSRP measurements supported by the target UE on different UL-SRS-P resources from the same respective RIS, a maximum number of UL RSTD measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and TDOA measurements for RIS-based positioning, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and multi-RTT measurements for RIS-based positioning, or any combination thereof.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) processing capability in RIS-aided UE positioning.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the DL-PRS processing capability is configured to indicate:

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE per transmission reception point (TRP) and per positioning frequency layer (PFL), or

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resource sets supported by the target UE per RIS per TRP and per PFL, or

a maximum number of downlink DL PRS resources supported by the target UE per RIS per DL PRS resource set, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, TRPs, RISs and DL PRS resource sets, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, TRPs, RISs and DL resource sets for one of a plurality of frequency ranges (FRs) where the target UE is configured for mixed operation on the plurality of FRs, or

a combination thereof.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication comprises the DL-PRS measurement report capability.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication comprises an uplink sounding reference signal for positioning (UL-SRS-P) processing capability in RIS-aided UE positioning.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the UL-SRS-P processing capability is configured to indicate:

a maximum SRS bandwidth supported by the target UE, or

an SRS buffering capability supported by the target UE, or

a duration of SRS symbols N that the target UE is capable of processing in a given period of time across a particular SRS bandwidth, or

a maximum number of SRS resources that the target UE is capable of processing in a slot, or

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE, or

a maximum number of carrier components (CCs) or bands supported by the target UE, or

support for particular measurement types derived from one or more SRS resources or SRS resource sets in one or more particular bands of a CC, or

a maximum number of SRS resource sets supported by the target UE per RIS, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE per RIS per SRS resource set, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple RISs and SRS resource sets, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE multiple RISs and SRS resource sets for one of a plurality of frequency ranges (FRs) where the target UE is configured for mixed operation on the plurality of FRs, or

a maximum number of SRS reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements supported by the target UE on different SRS resources in association with SRS reflections off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) reflected off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) reflected off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on SRS reflected off the same respective RIS, or

support of simultaneous processing for DL-PRS and UL-SRS-P, or

support of concurrent transmission and reception of SRS, or

any combination thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication comprises the UL-SRS-P measurement report capability.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication designates one or more measurement types supported by the target UE.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more measurement types comprise angle of departure (AoD), time difference of arrival (TDOA), multi-round trip time (RTT), or a combination thereof.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting another indication that indicates a different capability supported by the target UE for processing or measuring RS-Ps that are not reflected off of any RIS.

11 . A method of operating a position estimation entity, comprising:

receiving, from a target user equipment (UE), an indication of a capability of the target UE associated with reflections of reference signals for positioning (RS-Ps) off one or more reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs); and

configuring a positioning session for the target UE based at least in part upon the indication,

wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning, and the DL-PRS measurement report capability is configured to indicate: a maximum number of DL-PRS reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements supported by the target UE on different DL-PRS resources from the same respective RIS, or a maximum number of DL reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs, or a maximum number of DL RSTD measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs per transmission reception point (TRP), or support for simultaneous processing of angle of departure (AoD) and time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements for RIS-based positioning, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and multi-round trip time (RTT) measurements for RIS-based positioning, or any combination thereof, or

wherein the indication comprises an uplink sounding reference signal for positioning (UL-SRS-P) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning, and the UL-SRS-P measurement report capability indication is configured to indicate: a maximum number of UL-SRS-P RSRP measurements supported by the target UE on different UL-SRS-P resources from the same respective RIS, a maximum number of UL RSTD measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and TDOA measurements for RIS-based positioning, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and multi-RTT measurements for RIS-based positioning, or any combination thereof.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) processing capability in RIS-aided UE positioning.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the DL-PRS processing capability is configured to indicate:

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE per transmission reception point (TRP) and per positioning frequency layer (PFL), or

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resource sets supported by the target UE per RIS per TRP and per PFL, or

a maximum number of downlink DL PRS resources supported by the target UE per RIS per DL PRS resource set, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, TRPs, RISs and DL PRS resource sets, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, TRPs, RISs and DL resource sets for one of a plurality of frequency ranges (FRs) where the target UE is configured for mixed operation on the plurality of FRs, or

a combination thereof.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication comprises the DL-PRS measurement report capability.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication comprises an uplink sounding reference signal for positioning (UL-SRS-P) processing capability in RIS-aided UE positioning.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the UL-SRS-P processing capability is configured to indicate:

a maximum SRS bandwidth supported by the target UE, or

an SRS buffering capability supported by the target UE, or

a duration of SRS symbols N that the target UE is capable of processing in a given period of time across a particular SRS bandwidth, or

a maximum number of SRS resources that the target UE is capable of processing in a slot, or

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE, or

a maximum number of carrier components (CCs) or bands supported by the target UE, or

support for particular measurement types derived from one or more SRS resources or SRS resource sets in one or more particular bands of a CC, or

a maximum number of SRS resource sets supported by the target UE per RIS, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE per RIS per SRS resource set, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple RISs and SRS resource sets, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE multiple RISs and SRS resource sets for one of a plurality of frequency ranges (FRs) where the target UE is configured for mixed operation on the plurality of FRs, or

a maximum number of SRS reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements supported by the target UE on different SRS resources in association with SRS reflections off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) reflected off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) reflected off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on SRS reflected off the same respective RIS, or

support of simultaneous processing for DL-PRS and UL-SRS-P, or

support of concurrent transmission and reception of SRS, or

any combination thereof.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication comprises the UL-SRS-P measurement report capability.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication designates one or more measurement types supported by the target UE.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more measurement types comprise angle of departure (AoD), time difference of arrival (TDOA), multi-round trip time (RTT), or a combination thereof.

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving another indication that indicates a different capability supported by the target UE for processing or measuring RS-Ps that are not reflected off of any RIS.

21 . A target user equipment (UE), comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to:

determine a capability of the target UE associated with reflections of reference signals for positioning (RS-Ps) off one or more reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs); and

transmit an indication of the determined UE capability,

wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning, and the DL-PRS measurement report capability is configured to indicate: a maximum number of DL-PRS reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements supported by the target UE on different DL-PRS resources from the same respective RIS, or a maximum number of DL reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs, or a maximum number of DL RSTD measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs per transmission reception point (TRP), or support for simultaneous processing of angle of departure (AoD) and time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements for RIS-based positioning, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and multi-round trip time (RTT) measurements for RIS-based positioning, or any combination thereof, or

wherein the indication comprises an uplink sounding reference signal for positioning (UL-SRS-P) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning, and the UL-SRS-P measurement report capability indication is configured to indicate: a maximum number of UL-SRS-P RSRP measurements supported by the target UE on different UL-SRS-P resources from the same respective RIS, a maximum number of UL RSTD measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and TDOA measurements for RIS-based positioning, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and multi-RTT measurements for RIS-based positioning, or any combination thereof.

22 . The target UE of claim 21 , wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) processing capability in RIS-aided UE positioning.

23 . The target UE of claim 22 , wherein the DL-PRS processing capability is configured to indicate:

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE per transmission reception point (TRP) and per positioning frequency layer (PFL), or

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resource sets supported by the target UE per RIS per TRP and per PFL, or

a maximum number of downlink DL PRS resources supported by the target UE per RIS per DL PRS resource set, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, TRPs, RISs and DL PRS resource sets, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, TRPs, RISs and DL resource sets for one of a plurality of frequency ranges (FRs) where the target UE is configured for mixed operation on the plurality of FRs, or

a combination thereof.

24 . The target UE of claim 21 , wherein the indication comprises the DL-PRS measurement report capability.

25 . The target UE of claim 21 , wherein the indication comprises an uplink sounding reference signal for positioning (UL-SRS-P) processing capability in RIS-aided UE positioning.

26 . The target UE of claim 25 , wherein the UL-SRS-P processing capability is configured to indicate:

a maximum SRS bandwidth supported by the target UE, or

an SRS buffering capability supported by the target UE, or

a duration of SRS symbols N that the target UE is capable of processing in a given period of time across a particular SRS bandwidth, or

a maximum number of SRS resources that the target UE is capable of processing in a slot, or

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE, or

a maximum number of carrier components (CCs) or bands supported by the target UE, or

support for particular measurement types derived from one or more SRS resources or SRS resource sets in one or more particular bands of a CC, or

a maximum number of SRS resource sets supported by the target UE per RIS, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE per RIS per SRS resource set, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple RISs and SRS resource sets, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE multiple RISs and SRS resource sets for one of a plurality of frequency ranges (FRs) where the target UE is configured for mixed operation on the plurality of FRs, or

a maximum number of SRS reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements supported by the target UE on different SRS resources in association with SRS reflections off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) reflected off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) reflected off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on SRS reflected off the same respective RIS, or

support of simultaneous processing for DL-PRS and UL-SRS-P, or

support of concurrent transmission and reception of SRS, or

any combination thereof.

27 . The target UE of claim 21 , wherein the indication comprises the UL-SRS-P measurement report capability.

28 . The target UE of claim 21 , wherein the indication designates one or more measurement types supported by the target UE.

29 . The target UE of claim 28 , wherein the one or more measurement types comprise angle of departure (AoD), time difference of arrival (TDOA), multi-round trip time (RTT), or a combination thereof.

30 . The target UE of claim 21 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

transmit another indication that indicates a different capability supported by the target UE for processing or measuring RS-Ps that are not reflected off of any RIS.

31 . A position estimation entity, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to:

receive, from a target user equipment (UE), an indication of a capability of the target UE associated with reflections of reference signals for positioning (RS-Ps) off one or more reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs); and

configure a positioning session for the target UE based at least in part upon the indication,

wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning, and the DL-PRS measurement report capability is configured to indicate: a maximum number of DL-PRS reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements supported by the target UE on different DL-PRS resources from the same respective RIS, or a maximum number of DL reference signal time difference (RSTD) measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs, or a maximum number of DL RSTD measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs per transmission reception point (TRP), or support for simultaneous processing of angle of departure (AoD) and time difference of arrival TDOA) measurements for RIS-based positioning, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and multi-round trip time (RTT) measurements for RIS-based positioning, or any combination thereof, or

wherein the indication comprises an uplink sounding reference signal for positioning (UL-SRS-P) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning, and the UL-SRS-P measurement report capability indication is configured to indicate: a maximum number of UL-SRS-P RSRP measurements supported by the target UE on different UL-SRS-P resources from the same respective RIS, a maximum number of UL RSTD measurements supported by the UE per pair of RISs, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and TDOA measurements for RIS-based positioning, or support for simultaneous processing of AoD and multi-RTT measurements for RIS-based positioning, or any combination thereof.

32 . The position estimation entity of claim 31 , wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) processing capability in RIS-aided UE positioning.

33 . The position estimation entity of claim 32 , wherein the DL-PRS processing capability is configured to indicate:

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE per transmission reception point (TRP) and per positioning frequency layer (PFL), or

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resource sets supported by the target UE per RIS per TRP and per PFL, or

a maximum number of downlink DL PRS resources supported by the target UE per RIS per DL PRS resource set, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, TRPs, RISs and DL PRS resource sets, or

a maximum number of DL PRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple PFLs, TRPs, RISs and DL resource sets for one of a plurality of frequency ranges (FRs) where the target UE is configured for mixed operation on the plurality of FRs, or

a combination thereof.

34 . The position estimation entity of claim 31 , wherein the indication comprises a downlink positioning reference signal (DL-PRS) measurement report capability in RIS-aided UE positioning.

35 . The position estimation entity of claim 31 , wherein the indication comprises the DL-PRS measurement report capability.

36 . The position estimation entity of claim 35 , wherein the UL-SRS-P processing capability is configured to indicate:

a maximum SRS bandwidth supported by the target UE, or

an SRS buffering capability supported by the target UE, or

a duration of SRS symbols N that the target UE is capable of processing in a given period of time across a particular SRS bandwidth, or

a maximum number of SRS resources that the target UE is capable of processing in a slot, or

a maximum number of RISs supported by the target UE, or

a maximum number of carrier components (CCs) or bands supported by the target UE, or

support for particular measurement types derived from one or more SRS resources or SRS resource sets in one or more particular bands of a CC, or

a maximum number of SRS resource sets supported by the target UE per RIS, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE per RIS per SRS resource set, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE across multiple RISs and SRS resource sets, or

a maximum number of SRS resources supported by the target UE multiple RISs and SRS resource sets for one of a plurality of frequency ranges (FRs) where the target UE is configured for mixed operation on the plurality of FRs, or

a maximum number of SRS reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements supported by the target UE on different SRS resources in association with SRS reflections off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on a synchronization signal block (SSB) reflected off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) reflected off the same respective RIS, or

a spatial relationship for UL-SRS-P based on SRS reflected off the same respective RIS, or

support of simultaneous processing for DL-PRS and UL-SRS-P, or

support of concurrent transmission and reception of SRS, or

any combination thereof.

37 . The position estimation entity of claim 31 , wherein the indication comprises the UL-SRS-P measurement report capability.

38 . The position estimation entity of claim 31 , wherein the indication designates one or more measurement types supported by the target UE.

39 . The position estimation entity of claim 38 , wherein the one or more measurement types comprise angle of departure (AoD), time difference of arrival (TDOA), multi-round trip time (RTT), or a combination thereof.

40 . The position estimation entity of claim 31 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive another indication that indicates a different capability supported by the target UE for processing or measuring RS-Ps that are not reflected off of any RIS.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 17, 2023
From: DUAN, WEIMIN; LEI, JING; MANOLAKOS, ALEXANDROS
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 064288/0952 →
Priority Claims (1)
GR 20210100119 · Mar 1, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240305334A1 · Sep 12, 2024
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